Preparation of corneal tissue by eye bank improves over 1 year

Cornea. 2009;28(9):966-970.

Eye bank corneal tissue preparation was largely successful and improved in accuracy over time, according to a study.

"There was a very high rate of successful tissue preparation (98.5%), and early failed attempts at tissue cutting were likely the result of the initial learning curve of the involved technicians," the study authors said.

The authors assessed 913 corneal buttons obtained over 1 year from an eye bank for use in posterior lamellar transplantation. An automated microkeratome was used to process the corneal buttons.

Study data showed that the rate of successful tissue preparation was 95% in the first quarter and 99.5% in the fourth quarter. Grafts were cut thicker than requested by the operating surgeon 28.3% of the time. After cutting, endothelial cell density increased an average of 4.7% and was similar to baseline endothelial cell density, the authors said.

"Practical considerations resulted in tissue being cut marginally thicker than requested," the authors said. "This is an issue about which the operating surgeon should be aware, because it may possibly influence tissue handling. The quality of the obtained material, as measured by [endothelial cell density], was excellent, although the calculated [endothelial cell density] may be prone to measurement artifact."